Heavy shelling in Nowshera

11 December 2002The Daily ExcelsiorExcelsior Correspondent

Rajouri: Pakistan army today resorted to heavy mortar shelling and firing in Nowshera and Sunderbani sectors in this district. A woman was seriously injured while several houses were damaged in the shelling. Official sources said Pakistan troops directly targeted the civilian localities in Bhawani area of Nowshera sector in early hours of this morning. Over 20 shells were fired in Bhawani, some of which fell close to the houses. Two houses belonging to Dev Raj son of Shankar Dass and Raj Kumar son of Lal Chand suffered extensive damage in Bhawani while some other houses sustained minor damage. However, there was no report of any casualties in the shelling and firing in Nowshera sector. Firing was replied by the Indian troops effectively. Exchange of firing between the two sides continued for over two hours. According to sources, Pakistan army was reported to have suffered some casualties in retaliatory firing by the Indian side. However, exact details of the casualties couldnít be ascertained. A Pakistan army post was also reportedly hit. Sunderbani sector in Rajouri district also witnessed heavy exchange of firing this morning. A woman Shashi Bala wife of Prem Dass, was hit by a bullet when she was heading toward her fields at village Sair near the Line of Control (LoC). She sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital by local people and security forces, the sources said. Exchange of firing continued for two and a half hours. No casualties or damage was reported on the Indian army side. Sources described Pakistan armyís shelling as unprovoked. However, they didnít rule out the possibility of Pakistan troops trying to push the infiltrators into Indian territory under the cover of shelling and firing.